Things to Do on Qingming Festival

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Enjoy River Scenery in Changpuhe Park

Changpuhe Park, situated in the heart of the Dongcheng District, is separated from Tian'anmen Square only by a wall. Changpu River got its name because of the calami (Changpu in Chinese) growing in the river, and is always an important part of the Forbidden City’s water system. Dated back to 1403 – 1422 in Ming Dynasty, it was one of the inland rivers in Dongyuan (east imperial garden), and famed for its surrounding beautiful sceneries and fabulous natural environment; however, in modern times, Changpu River was seriously polluted by wastes and garbage, and its beauty perished.

In 2002 when Beijing municipal government began to make a rehabilitation work to Changpu River, an opening public green space with characteristics of river sceneries was established, and then it was connected with Donghuangcheng Relic Park, forming a complete green relaxation space along the imperial walls. After rehabilitation, Changpu River has recovered its beauty of the old days. Walking along the river and under the willow trees, tourists indulge themselves into the breathtaking sceneries, while experiencing the river course views and historical culture.

Smell Magnolias in West Chang'an Street

The blossoms of magnolias and winter jasmines bring the spring to the city, attracting numerous tourists from home and abroad to come to the West Changan Street to have fun, take photos and draw paintings. In spring, all magnolias blossom together, and form a beautiful picture combining with blue sky, red walls and yellow glazed tiles. The red walls set against the white flowers, demonstrating a kind of solemn beauty. Besides, the West Changan Street is a free place to enjoy magnolias.

The magnolias on the Changan Street mostly blossom on the both sides of Zhongnanhai, which is on the leeward side and has a great exposure to the sun, so the magnolias there are the earliest ones in Beijing.

In addition, magnolias can also be found on the lakeside near the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Imagine you are bathing in the warm sunshine, and the magnolias around you are dauntlessly blooming under the blue sky, sending the fragrance everywhere! What a fantastic picture!

Climb in Fragrant Hills Park and Admire Beautiful Flowers

Situated in the west suburb of Beijing with an area of 188 hectares, the Fragrant Hills Park is an imperial garden featuring steep topography and undulating green peaks. The main peak, Xianglu Peak is the most steep and cliffy peak in the Park, with an altitude of 557 meters. It is the most popular mountain-climbing place for Beijing people.

The Fragrant Hills Park has always been a mountain for apricot blossoms since ancient times. Every spring, the apricot flowers blossomed together, spreading the strong fragrance far away. On the north side of the Fragrant Hills Park, there is a secret place named Jianxinzhai. As the story goes, it was initially established in Ming Dynasty under the rein of Jiajing Emperor (1522-1566), and renovated several times later. Surrounded by a peaceful environment, Jianxinzhai adopts an annular, unique courtyard architectural structure full of Jiangnan-style sentiments. However, it is not located on the main route, so there are fewer tourists here. For people who desire a tranquil place to hang out with friends for relaxation in this season, here is a great choice!

Take a Walk in Niantan Park and Fly Kite

Located in Daxing District of Beijing, Niantan Park beats the other newly-established parks, and becomes the most popular park in the suburbs. It covers an area of 2500 mu, 150 mu for wetlands, 700 mu for the entire water areas. The main places of interests include Looking for Tranquility through Immense Forests, Graceful Images Reflected into Waters, Youzhoutaige - Chen Ziang, Taiji-shaped Flower Island. Niantan Park has been officially open to the public since May 28, 2011.

Daxing Xincheng Binhe Forest Park is located on the north side of the biomedical base, with its north to West Qingyuan Road, its south to Huangliang Road, its west to Ludong Road, and its east adjoining to Xiaolonghe. The Park is composed of the West Qingyuan Road on the north, Xiaolonghe green space and Niantan Park on the south. With the peach blossoms dancing in the breeze, the willow trees stretching their twigs and the stream singing with birds, the spring here is waiting you to take a walk and enjoy the performances brought by the nature.

In addition, this place is the best choice for people who like to fly a kite. A wide variety of kites will fly into the sky whenever it is sunny, and this is one of the pictures in the “Beijing Gallery”.

Enjoy Suzhou-style Garden Landscapes in Yushuzhuang Park

Located in Fengtai District, Yushuzhuang Park is a niche tourist destination. With a total planning area of 768 mu and water area of over 40 mu, the whole Park is divided into four zones, namely, lake scenic spot, mountain scenic spot, hill scenic spot and plain scenic spot. Based on the style of Suzhou Gardens, the entire gardens in the Park also adopt the essence of the architectural structures in Sui and Tang dynasties more than a thousand years ago - taking wooden structures without any color decoration and painting as the main element with a view to presenting the original color and texture of the pines.

The waters in the whole Park are almost from the rainwater collected by an intelligent rainwater collection system. The buildings in the Park adopt Japan’s existing Chinese architectural features in Sui and Tang dynasties - taking wooden structures without any color decoration and painting as the main element with a view to presenting the original color and texture of the pines.

At present, there are over 500 cherry trees in the Cherry Garden of the Park. In the season of cherry blossoms, the whole mountain is full of blooming cherries, which looks like pink clouds from afar. It is expected that nearly ten thousand cherry trees will be planted in the Garden in the coming years, and at that time, it will become the largest place for enjoying cherry blossoms in Beijing. Yushuzhuang Park has the total planning area of 768 mu, designed by Professor Ji Huailu from the College of Architecture of Tsinghua University, who has once stayed in Japan for many years.

Self-driving Touring in Miaofeng Mountain

Located in Mentougou District of west Beijing, and 55 km to the Downtown, Miaofeng Mountain Scenic Area covers 20 square kilometers, and is famous for its ancient temples, strangely-shaped pines, bizarre rocks and rare plants. The area is full of high and steep mountains and is brilliant in sunrise, sunset glow, soft rime, mirage and other seasonal landscapes. In addition, there is a rose farm of a thousand mu and the greatest traditional pilgrims’ temple fair in North China.

This is one of the most culture-featured scenic areas around Beijing. Its peak base is broad, with fresh air and flourishing bushes, all creatures are in vigor and vitality. The area is rich in woody plants and valuable herbs, various marvelous perennial flowers and rare plants, including prunus davidiana flowers, wild lilac, Japanese snowbell, rhododendron simsii, strawflower, a thousand mu of roses and pear flowers competing for blossom, revealing a unique scene of “all flowers embosomed in hills blooming all year round”.

This is a place suitable for self-driving travel. Starting from Chinese National Highway 109 (G109), Miaofeng Mountain road is 20.43 km in length and go north to Chijian Huiji Temple in Miaofeng Mountain after Danli Village, Taoyuan Village, Nanzhuang Village, Yingtaogou Village and Jiangou Village.

Appreciating Early-blossomed Cherries in Yuyuantan Park

Located in Haidian District, Yuyuantan Park is a good place to appreciate the beauty of cherry blossoms. As the temperature changes, some cherries may be early in blossom. This short-lived flower usually lasts from the last ten days of March to the middle ten days of April, but the early cherries only lasts for seven days. When the flowering plums are in bloom on the roadsides, you're told it’s the right time to enjoy the cherries in Yuyuantan Park.

Yuyuantan Park has more than 40-year history of planting and cultivating cherry blossom. In recent years, the new cherry scenic spot in the park has been designed by taking full consideration of the colors, surrounding landscape elements and the culture of early cherries, with “Miles of Cherry Embankment” waterside cherry blossoms and cherry blossoms all over the mountain landscapes created. The self-cultivated colorful “hill cherry” plants are broadly planted in the park, which are in complete harmony with the terrain, topography and cultural atmosphere, forming a harmonious ecological environment and making the park present an entirely new look. The new landscape will be ready in future cherry blossom seasons.

Every spring, the "Cherry Blossom Festival" will be held in Yuyuantan Park, presenting more than two thousands of cherry trees which look like rosy clouds. The breeze is gently blowing your face, the snow-like petals is flying into the sky, this romantic scene attracts crowds of people, and makes them immerse into it.